Fluid-gage.



'No. 794,678. PATENTED JULY 11, 1905. M. MARTIN.

' FLUID GAGE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19, 1964.

UNITED STATES Patented July 11,1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

MORRIS MARTIN, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE- W. GREGORY,TRUSTEE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FLUID-GAGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 794,678, dated July11, 1905.

Application filed August 19, 190 1. Serial No. 221,356.

To all whom it puny concern:

Be it known that I, MORRIS MARTIN, a citi-. zen of the United States,residing at Maiden, in the county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts,have invented an Improvement in Fluid-Gages, of which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to provide a gage controlled by afloat adapted to be applied to a tank, boiler, or vessel to holdgasolene, oil, water, or any fluid.

In new construction the tank holding the fluid, the depth or amount ofwhich is to be measured, will have a filling-inlet provided with aremovable closure and a gage -inlet through which the float on a shaftsustained in a head which when applied to the tank becomes a fixed orpermanent part thereof and does not need to be removed for the purposesof refilling the tank as necessity requires.

When a gage embodying my invention is to be applied to a tankalreadymade and in use say in an automobile said tank having but onefilling-opening, I remove the cap constituting the removable closure forthe filling-opening or fluid-inlet, and in this opening instead of saidclosure I screw the f0 tofal ollow head which when once applie to thebiisliing'in" the tank remains as a fixed part of the tank, and to fillthe tank I detach temporarily from the head a removable closure. Thehead has depending from it a guide which is maintained in the tank, andthe head sustains ashaft carrying an adjustable magnet which in thechosen form shown is of novel construction, the shaft being turned moreor less by a float that rises and falls as the depth of the fluid in thetank varies.

The float shown is of peculiar construction, it comprising a thin hollowshell to leave an air-space of such size that the float may readilyfollow and rest on the surface of the liquid as its depth varies, thefloat containing air and being so made as to prevent liquid fromentering the same.

Above the head and its fixed face, in which the rock-shaft referred tois journaled, and in a position where it may be easily inspected is amagnetic needle,said needle being sustained on a pivot erected in acompartment similar to a compass-box, into which it is impossible forany fumes, as of gasolene, to enter. I rest this compartment or boxcontaining the magnetic needle on said head, turning the box in ahorizontal plane on said head so that the scale-marks of the box overwhich the magnetic needle travels may be located in one or anotherposition to accommodate the user who may wish to read the scale from oneor the other side of the tank, and to provide for placing the box in anydesired position I have made provision for adjusting the permanentmagnet axially on the rock-shaft controlled by the float, so that theforce of the magnet exerted through the compass-box on the magneticneedle turns the latter in unison with the magnet. The magnet shownconcentrates its lines of force at its upturned edges directly on theextremities of the magnetic needle, and consequently the needle is morepositively controlled than were the magnet made as a straight bar.

Figure 1 shows part of a tank with one of my novel gages in positionthereon, the head and most of the gage being shownin section; Fig. 2, atop view of the gage alone; Fig. 8, a top view of the head with thecompassbox and filling closure removed. Fig. 4: shows the filling-tubedetached; and Fig. 5 is a section below in the line :12, the parts beingenlarged.

Referring to the drawings, A represents part of a tank, boiler, orvessel that is to hold gasolene, oil, or any fluid and in the use ofwhich it is desirable to know the amount of liquid therein. The tank maybe placed on an automobile or in any position where the fluid is to beused to do work. In new construction, as stated, the tank will have aninlet-orifice (0, (shown by dotted lines,) in which will be secured athreaded bushing a, that will be provided with a removable closure (0and also a gage-receiving opening I), in which will be secured athreaded bushing b. I have herein chosen to illustrate by full lines myinvention as applied to a tank of, say, an automobile having but oneopening in its shellsay the opening b and having removed the usualclosure from said opening I screw thereon the threaded leg 0 at thelower side of the hollow head C, said head having a fixed or permanentface or diaphragm a covering the hollow space a in line with the openlower end of said leg. The face or diaphragm c is integral with the headand serves to journal the upper part of a rock-shaft (Z, the lower endof which is represented as sustained by a step cl, shown as applied tothe lower end of a tube (Z depending from the head and entering saidtank, said shaft serving as a guide for a float comprising a short tube(V and a shell composed of two parts d J, said tube and shell being ofvery thin impervious material--such, for instance, as celluloid ormetal-and so connected as to trap any air between the walls of the shelland the tube and prevent the entrance of liquid into the hollow interiorof the float. The tube (Z is provided with a series of openings (fl tothereby enable the gasolene or other fluid in the tank to readily enterthe tube.

The shaft (Z, as shown in cross-section, preferably has one or more flatfaces, (see Fig. 5,) and the tube Z is so shaped as to coact with saidshaft as the depth of the liquid in the tank varies, the float in itsmovement turning the shaft more or less by reason of an arm (1, extendedfrom the float that engages a spiral guide 0, shown as a slot in thetube it, said slot starting from near one end of said tube and beingextended substantially once about the tube as the slot approaches theother end of the tube. This invention is not, however, limited in allinstances to the particular floatguiding means so long as the floatturns the shaft on its axis once during each complete rise or fall ofthe float.

The top of the head is shown as recessed at f for the reception of themagnet, and the bottom wall of this chamber constitutes the fixed orpermanent face 0, and the journal at the upper end of the shaft (Z ispassed upwardly through a hole in the face and has adjustably securedthereto by a set-screw 20 (see Fig. 3) the permanent magnet f, saidmagnet, as shown, being capable of being turned in said recess and alsobeing adjustable axially on said shaft to thereby enable the magnet tobe adj ustcd exactly to the position of the scale marks on the dial overwhich the magnetic needle is to be turned by the magnet. The outerportion of the head G is shown as threaded at f. Above the face 0 1 setthe bottom of a compartment or compass-box g, having, preferably, aflange 9, said bottom having an upwardly extended pivot on which ismounted the hub of a magnetic needle y. \Vith a compass-box and head ofbrass it will be understood that the magnetic needle will be turned inunison with the magnet through the force of the magnet exerted on saidneedle through the non-magnetic box, and at the same time any fumes ofgasolene that might possibly escape through the face at the upper sideof the head cannot enter the space in which the magnetic needle is movedby the magnet.

The compass-box inside under the magnetic needle may be marked or haveascale, as F and E, to indicate full or empty andother marks, as 5}, 5,and 3; full, to indicate quantities of fluid in the tank less than full.The box will have a glass cover /1 that may be retained in position by aring /t.

The head shown presents two chambers c and 0 connected by a passage-waymade in a neck 7/. The metal at the upper end of the chamber 0' isthreaded for the reception of a closure or plug a", that will be removedwhen the tank is to be filled, it being understood that when'the head 0has once been fixed to the tank that the head and connected gage,rock-shaft, and magnet do not need to be removed for filling the tank.\Vhen the tube and rock-shaft are properly mounted in the head and thefloat occupies a position at the lower end of the tube, the magnet issecured to the upper end of the rock-shaft, and then the compass-box isset on the head above the face c,with the letter E or theletter F overone of the poles of the magnet, and the com pass-box is then clamped inposition on the head. Thereafter as the rock-shaft is rotated themagnetic needle will be rotated in unison with the magnet and this samerelation will be maintained.

Usually when the gage is a pplied to a tank the tank will be empty andthe tube will be inserted in the tank and the head turned, so that itsthreaded leg will enter the bushing I). Where the tank is oval or curvedat its top, the longest part of the head should point in the directionof the longest part of the curved part of the tank, and that thisposition of the head may be secured I employ a washer /1 usually oflead, which is laid on the upper end of the bushing I). WVashers of anydesired thickness may be used to insure the exact position of the headand. the making of a tight joint. In some carriages it would be moreconvenient to read the dial from the left-hand side and on others fromthe right-side of the carriage. To provide for this, the ring-nutm willbe removed from the compass-box, and the permanent magnet will beremoved from itsjournal by releasing the screw, and then to change thereading position of the com pass-box dial----- say from the right to theleft side of the carriage--l replace the permanent magnet on itsjournal, with the north pole, marked N, pointing to the left-hand sideof the carriag and fasten it firmly by the screw. The compass-needleisalso so charged that itsindicatil'ig end is the north poleof the needle, and conl sequently it will be understood when the com- Ipass-box containing the needle is placed in position over the peruninentmagnet that the north pole of the compass-needle will be re ITO pelledby the north pole of the permanent magnet, thus turning the indicatingend of the compass needle to the right-hand side of the carriage. I thenrevolve the compassbox until the letter E on the dial is under theindicating end of the needle, after which the ring-nut will be appliedto clamp the compassboX inits adjusted position. Now when standing atthe left-hand side of the carriage and facing the same the letters E Fand the rest of the scale on the dial of the compassbox will be readfrom the left-hand side of the carriage. 1

By applying permanently to the tank a gage comprising a head having atube, a magnet, and a float all liability of injury tosaid gage is doneaway with, injury being liable to occur when the rock-shaft, tube, andmagnet are disconnected from the tank for filling the same. In myinvention the tank may be filled by removing the closure 10 To preventloss of gasolene when filling and also to materially aid the operator, Ihave provided a filling-tube p, threaded at its lower end to engage thescrew-threads employed to hold the removable closure 72 in place, sothat when said closure is taken out the tube may be readily inserted.The upper end of this tube is corrugated that any air in the tank mayreadily escape without throwing out the oil, which is liable to get overthe Woodwork of an automobile, damaging the same, and, further, the tubeis provided with a strainer p to prevent any chips, dirt, or refusematter entering the tank.

When the head is once seated properly in the position it is desired thatthe head occupy, I may solder the same in place by applying solder tothe junction of the foot m of the head with the exterior of the tank.

Further, by filling the tank through an orifice from which has beenwithdrawn the removable closure, leaving the float and other parts inthe tank, enables the person filling the tank by watching the gage tosee when the tank is full, or substantially so, which prevents at timesrunning the gasolene over. The magnet f herein shown is composed of asteel bar having rising from its upper side at its end V-shaped toes fthe length of said toes extending, preferably, transversely the lengthof the bar. These toes enable the magnet to more thoroughly and readilycontrol the magnetic needle than though the magnet were a plain barwithout the V-shaped toes, for the reason that the magnetic lines offorce leave the sharp edges of the toes and focus at the ends of themagnetic needle, thereby enabling the magnetic force to have, as itwere, a greater influence in turning the magnetic needle.

This application shows one form of my application, and another form isshown in my companion application Serial N 0. 233,329, filed November18, 1904. The broad and generic claims covering both forms have beenplaced in this latter application.

Having fully described my invention, what 7 I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a gage of the class described, a head, a vertical shaft adapted tobe turned in said head and having an attached permanent magnet, aseparate compass-box having a magnetic needle and sustained at the topof said head, a tube having a spiral guide and depending from said head,and a float located within said tube and guided thereby, said float inits rising-and-falling movement turning said shaft and magnet.

2. In a gage of the class described, ahead, a vertical shaft adapted tobe turned in said head and having a permanent magnet, a separatecompass-box having a magnetic needle adapted to be sustained by saidhead and to be rotated thereabove, and means to confine the compass-boxin its position on said head.

3. In a gage of the class described, a head having a fixed face, avertical shaft journaled in said face and having a permanent magnet, acompass-box having a flange and sustaining a magnetic needle, and meansto clamp the compass-box in position on said face.

4:. In a gage of the class described, a head, a dependingspirally-slotted tube having a step, a vertical shaft inside said tubeand journaled in said step and also in said head and having a permanentmagnet connected therewith, a float in engagement with said shaft andhaving a pin entering the slot of the tube and turning said shaft as thefloat rises and falls, a compass-box sustained loosely at the outer sideof said head and having a magnetic needle, and means to clamp saidcompass-box in its adjusted position on said head.

5. In a gage, a hollow head adapted to be ,said tube and loose withrelation to said shaft,

means for rotating said float as it rises and falls in said tube saidfloat comprising a tube and a thin hollow shell connected therewith toprevent liquid entering the space between the shell and its tube, andhaving a pin to engage the tube to rotate said shaft.

6. In a gage, a tank, a head having a hollow space and a fixed face andadapted to be attached permanently to said tank, said face beingarranged opposite the space in said head that leads into said tank, aseparate removable closure to enable the tank to be filled withoutremoving said head, a rock shaft journaled at one end in said fixed faceand provided with a magnet, a hollow float sealed against the entranceof fluid thereinto, a pivot erected vertically above said face, amagnetic needle mounted on said pivot, and means to insure the partialrotation of said shaft as the float rises and falls due to variation inquantity of liquid in said tank.

7. A tank having a hole for the reception of a gage comprising a headprovided with a permanent face and a tube depending from said headopposite said face, said head having a screw-thread by which to fix saidhead to said tank, a rock-shaft within said tube and journaled at oneend in said head, a permanent magnet attached to said rock-shaft, ahollow float sealed against the entrance of fluid into the hollow partthereof and coacting with said rock-shaft and tube in a manner to turnsaid shaft and magnet, combined with an independent closure removablefor filling the tank, and a magnetic needle pivoted outside said faceand rotated by said magnet.

8. In a gage of the class described, a head having a closure and aconnected slotted tube, means to sustain the same on a tank with thetube in the tank, a shaft rotatably supported within the tube andhavinga permanent magnet adj ustably attached thereto, a hollow floatinside said tube, said float having a pin to enter the slot of the tube,said float, shaft and tube coacting in a manner substantially asdescribed whereby as the float rises and falls due to change of fluid inthe tank, the shaft and its magnet are turned, and the magnetic needlesustained above said head and rotated in unison with said magnet.

9. A tank having a curb connected therewith gas and fluid tight,combined with a gage comprising ahead, a pivoted magnetic needle, aspirally-slotted tube depending from said head, said tube being ofsmaller diameter than the opening in the curb that the tube may bereadily inserted in the tank when the gage is to be put in workingposition, a shaft inside said slotted tube and journaled to said head, apermanent magnet attached to the upper end of said shaft, and a hollowmetallic float wholly within said tube and provided with a pin extendedinto said slot, said float as it rises and falls under the action of thefluid in the tank turning said shaft and its magnet, the latter turningin unison with it said magnetic needle.

10. In a gage of the class described, a head having two openingsconnected by a passageway, a removable closure for one of said openings,fluid-indicating means connected with the other opening of said head,and comprising a tube, a rock-shaft thereon provided with a magnet, anda float inside said tube, combined with a magnetic needle exposed at theother side of said head and rotated by said magnet.

11. In a fluid-gage, ahead adapted to be engaged with a bushingsustained by a tank, said head having a passageway, the open end ofwhich is normally stopped by a removable closure, a tube incommunication with the passage in said head, a permanent magnet and afloat inside said tube and connected with said magnet in a manner torotate the same and cause said magnet to revolve, and a magnetic pointerphysically unconnected with said magnet and pivotally sustained abovesaid magnet whereby, as said magnet is to tated by said float, thepointer is caused to take positions corresponding therewith and therebyindicate variations in the level of the fluid in the tank.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

M ORRlS MARTlN.

Witnesses:

GEO. WV. GREGoRY, MARGARET A. DUNN.

